15-year-old Barbara Louise Cotton vanished from the streets of Williston, North Dakota, on April
11, 1981, five blocks from her home. What happened to Barbara Cotton?

 In episode 1, while others called Barbara a 'runaway', a frustrated yet unyielding Sandee Evanson refuses to stop looking for her childhood friend.

A Better Search for Barbara is a deep, investigative dive into one of North Dakota's longest
running cold cases.

Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo: https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/
Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/

Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS:
https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/

Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/

Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com

Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight

X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight
Instagram: @dakotaspotlight
TikTok: @dakotaspotlight
Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social
YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800

Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: info@sixhorsemedia.com

Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: info@sixhorsemedia.com

All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six
Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the
express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries,
please contact info@sixhorsemedia.com

15-year-old Barbara Louise Cotton vanished from the streets of Williston, North Dakota, on April 11, 1981, five blocks from her home. What happened to Barbara Cotton?
&nbsp;In episode 1, while others called Barbara a 'runaway', a frustrated yet unyielding Sandee Evanson refuses to stop&nbsp;looking for her childhood friend.
A Better Search for Barbara is a deep, investigative dive into one of North Dakota's longest running cold cases.
Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo: https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: <a href="https://dakotaspotlight.com/">https://dakotaspotlight.com/</a>
Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: <a href="https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/">https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/</a>
Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: <a href="https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/">https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/</a>
Email: <a href="mailto:dakotaspotlight@gmail.com">dakotaspotlight@gmail.com</a>
Facebook: <a href="https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight">https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight</a>
X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800
Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: <a href="mailto:info@sixhorsemedia.com">info@sixhorsemedia.com</a>
Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: <a href="mailto:info@sixhorsemedia.com">info@sixhorsemedia.com</a>
All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact <a href="mailto:info@sixhorsemedia.com">info@sixhorsemedia.com</a>

The Burden is a documentary series that takes listeners into the hidden places where justice is done (and undone). It dives deep into the lives of heroes and villains. And it focuses a spotlight on those who triumph even when the odds are against them. 

Season 5 - The Burden: Death & Deceit in Alliance

On April Fools Day 1999, 26-year-old Yvonne Layne was found murdered in her Alliance, Ohio home. David Thorne, her ex-boyfriend and father of one of her children, was instantly a suspect. Another young man admitted to the murder,  and David breathed a sigh of relief, until the confessed murderer fingered David; “He paid me to do it.”  David was sentenced to life without parole. Two decades later, Pulitzer winner and podcast host, Maggie Freleng (Bone Valley Season 3: Graves County, Wrongful Conviction, Suave) launched a “live” investigation into David's conviction alongside Jason Baldwin (himself wrongfully convicted as a member of the West Memphis Three). Maggie had come to believe that the entire investigation of David was botched by the tiny local police department, or worse, covered up the real killer. Was Maggie correct? Was David’s claim of innocence credible? In Death and Deceit in Alliance, Maggie recounts thecasethat launched her career, and ultimately, “broke” her.” The results will shock the listener and reduce Maggie to tears and self-doubt. This is not your typical wrongful conviction story. In fact, it turns the genre on its head. It asks the question: What if our champions are foolish?

Season 4 - The Burden: Get the Money and Run

“Trying to murder my father, this was the thing that put me on the path.” That’s Joe Loya and that path was bank robbery. Bank, bank, bank, bank, bank. In season 4 of The Burden: Get the Money and Run, we hear from Joe who was once the most prolific bank robber in Southern California, and beyond. He used disguises, body doubles, proxies. He leaped over counters, grabbed the money and ran. Even as the FBI was closing in. It was a showdown between a daring bank robber, and a patient FBI agent. Joe was no ordinary bank robber. He was bright, articulate, charismatic, and driven by a dark rage that he summoned up at will. In seven episodes, Joe tells all: the what, the how… and the why. Including why he tried to murder his father. 

Season 3 - The Burden: Avenger

Miriam Lewin is one of Argentina’s leading journalists today. At 19 years old, she was kidnapped off the streets of Buenos Aires for her political activism and thrown into a concentration camp. Thousands of her fellow inmates were executed, tossed alive from a cargo plane into the ocean. Miriam, along with a handful of others, will survive the camp. Then as a journalist, she will wage a decades long campaign to bring her tormentors to justice. 

Avenger is about one woman’s triumphant battle against unbelievable odds to survive torture, claim justice for the crimes done against her and others like her, and change the future of her country.

Season 2 - The Burden: Empire on Blood 

Empire on Blood is set in the Bronx, NY, in the early 90s, when two young drug dealers ruled an intersection known as “The Corner on Blood.” The boss, Calvin Buari, lived large. He and a protege swore they would build an empire on blood. Then the relationship frayed and the protege accused Calvin of a double homicide which he claimed he didn’t do. But did he? Award-winning journalist Steve Fishman spent seven years to answer that question. 

This is the story of one man’s last chance to overturn his life sentence. He may prevail, but someone’s gotta pay. The Burden: Empire on Blood is the director’s cut of the true crime classic which reached #1 on the charts when it was first released half a dozen years ago.

Season 1 - The Burden 

In the 1990s, Detective Louis N. Scarcella was legendary. In a city overrun by violent crime, he cracked the toughest cases and put away the worst criminals. “The Hulk” was his nickname.

Then the story changed. Scarcella ran into a group of convicted murderers who all say they are innocent. They turned themselves into jailhouse-lawyers and in prison founded a lway firm. When they realized Scarcella helped put many of them away, they set their sights on taking him down. And with the help of a NY Times reporter they have a chance.

For years, Scarcella insisted he did nothing wrong. But that’s all he’d say. Until we tracked Scarcella to a sauna in a Russian bathhouse, where he started to talk..and talk and talk. “The guilty have gone free,” he whispered. And then agreed to take us into the belly of the beast. 

Welcome to The Burden.

The Burden is a documentary series that takes listeners into the hidden places where justice is done (and undone). It dives deep into the lives of heroes and villains. And it focuses a spotlight on those who triumph even when the odds are against them.&nbsp;
Season 5 - The Burden: Death &amp; Deceit in Alliance
On April Fools Day 1999, 26-year-old Yvonne Layne was found murdered in her Alliance, Ohio home. David Thorne, her ex-boyfriend and father of one of her children, was instantly a suspect. Another young man admitted to the murder,&nbsp; and David breathed a sigh of relief, until the confessed murderer fingered David; &ldquo;He paid me to do it.&rdquo;&nbsp; David was sentenced to life without parole. Two decades later, Pulitzer winner and podcast host, Maggie Freleng (Bone Valley Season 3: Graves County, Wrongful Conviction, Suave) launched a &ldquo;live&rdquo; investigation into David's conviction alongside Jason Baldwin (himself wrongfully convicted as a member of the West Memphis Three). Maggie had come to believe that the entire investigation of David was botched by the tiny local police department, or worse, covered up the real killer. Was Maggie correct? Was David&rsquo;s claim of innocence credible? In Death and Deceit in Alliance, Maggie recounts the case that launched her career, and ultimately, &ldquo;broke&rdquo; her.&rdquo; The results will shock the listener and reduce Maggie to tears and self-doubt. This is not your typical wrongful conviction story. In fact, it turns the genre on its head. It asks the question: What if our champions are foolish?
Season 4 - The Burden: Get the Money and Run
&ldquo;Trying to murder my father, this was the thing that put me on the path.&rdquo; That&rsquo;s Joe Loya and that path was bank robbery. Bank, bank, bank, bank, bank. In season 4 of The Burden: Get the Money and Run, we hear from Joe who was once the most prolific bank robber in Southern California, and beyond. He used disguises, body doubles, proxies. He leaped over counters, grabbed the money and ran. Even as the FBI was closing in. It was a showdown between a daring bank robber, and a patient FBI agent. Joe was no ordinary bank robber. He was bright, articulate, charismatic, and driven by a dark rage that he summoned up at will. In seven episodes, Joe tells all: the what, the how&hellip; and the why. Including why he tried to murder his father.&nbsp;
Season 3 - The Burden: Avenger
Miriam Lewin is one of Argentina&rsquo;s leading journalists today. At 19 years old, she was kidnapped off the streets of Buenos Aires for her political activism and thrown into a concentration camp. Thousands of her fellow inmates were executed, tossed alive from a cargo plane into the ocean. Miriam, along with a handful of others, will survive the camp. Then as a journalist, she will wage a decades long campaign to bring her tormentors to justice.&nbsp;
Avenger is about one woman&rsquo;s triumphant battle against unbelievable odds to survive torture, claim justice for the crimes done against her and others like her, and change the future of her country.
Season 2 - The Burden: Empire on Blood&nbsp;
Empire on Blood is set in the Bronx, NY, in the early 90s, when two young drug dealers ruled an intersection known as &ldquo;The Corner on Blood.&rdquo; The boss, Calvin Buari, lived large. He and a protege swore they would build an empire on blood. Then the relationship frayed and the protege accused Calvin of a double homicide which he claimed he didn&rsquo;t do. But did he? Award-winning journalist Steve Fishman spent seven years to answer that question.&nbsp;
This is the story of one man&rsquo;s last chance to overturn his life sentence. He may prevail, but someone&rsquo;s gotta pay. The Burden: Empire on Blood is the director&rsquo;s cut of the true crime classic which reached #1 on the charts when it was first released half a dozen years ago.
Season 1 - The Burden&nbsp;
In the 1990s, Detective Louis N. Scarcella was legendary. In a city overrun by violent crime, he cracked the toughest cases and put away the worst criminals. &ldquo;The Hulk&rdquo; was his nickname.
Then the story changed. Scarcella ran into a group of convicted murderers who all say they are innocent. They turned themselves into jailhouse-lawyers and in prison founded a lway firm. When they realized Scarcella helped put many of them away, they set their sights on taking him down. And with the help of a NY Times reporter they have a chance.
For years, Scarcella insisted he did nothing wrong. But that&rsquo;s all he&rsquo;d say. Until we tracked Scarcella to a sauna in a Russian bathhouse, where he started to talk..and talk and talk. &ldquo;The guilty have gone free,&rdquo; he whispered. And then agreed to take us into the belly of the beast.&nbsp;
Welcome to The Burden.

The Burden

On April Fools Day 1999, 26-year-old Yvonne Layne was found murdered in her Alliance, Ohio home. David Thorne, her ex-boyfriend and father of one of her children, was instantly a suspect. Another young man admitted to the murder,  and David breathed a sigh of relief, until the confessed murderer fingered David; “He paid me to do it.”  David was sentenced to life without parole. Two decades later, Pulitzer winner and podcast host, Maggie Freleng (Bone Valley Season 3: Graves County, Wrongful Conviction, Suave) launched a “live” investigation into David's conviction alongside Jason Baldwin (himself wrongfully convicted as a member of the West Memphis Three). Maggie had come to believe that the entire investigation of David was botched by the tiny local police department, or worse, covered up the real killer. Was Maggie correct? Was David’s claim of innocence credible? In Death and Deceit in Alliance, Maggie recounts thecasethat launched her career, and ultimately, “broke” her.” The results will shock the listener and reduce Maggie to tears and self-doubt. This is not your typical wrongful conviction story. In fact, it turns the genre on its head. It asks the question: What if our champions are foolish?

On April Fools Day 1999, 26-year-old Yvonne Layne was found murdered in her Alliance, Ohio home. David Thorne, her ex-boyfriend and father of one of her children, was instantly a suspect. Another young man admitted to the murder,&nbsp; and David breathed a sigh of relief, until the confessed murderer fingered David; &ldquo;He paid me to do it.&rdquo;&nbsp; David was sentenced to life without parole. Two decades later, Pulitzer winner and podcast host, Maggie Freleng (Bone Valley Season 3: Graves County, Wrongful Conviction, Suave) launched a &ldquo;live&rdquo; investigation into David's conviction alongside Jason Baldwin (himself wrongfully convicted as a member of the West Memphis Three). Maggie had come to believe that the entire investigation of David was botched by the tiny local police department, or worse, covered up the real killer. Was Maggie correct? Was David&rsquo;s claim of innocence credible? In Death and Deceit in Alliance, Maggie recounts the case that launched her career, and ultimately, &ldquo;broke&rdquo; her.&rdquo; The results will shock the listener and reduce Maggie to tears and self-doubt. This is not your typical wrongful conviction story. In fact, it turns the genre on its head. It asks the question: What if our champions are foolish?

The Burden: Death & Deceit in Alliance

Introducing: Dakota Spotlight - A Better Search for Barbara  Episode 1

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/6cf0009e-2f46-47e2-b6b3-b2fb016e5801/transcript

Advertisement